FOLDING FRAME INCLUDING A ROTATABLE HOOK
A folding frame includes an upper body, a lower body, a fixing device disposed on the upper body, a hook rotatably coupled to the lower body, and a fastener for rotating the hook opposite to the lower body. The fastener comprises a shaft of which a first end is coupled to the hook, a spring of which a first end is coupled to a second end of the shaft, and a latch pin capable of moving the spring thereby moving the shaft for rotating the hook, and of which a first end of the latch pin is coupled to a second end of the spring. The hook is unhooked from the fixing device when the hook is rotated into the lower body, and the hook is engaged with the fixing device when the hook is rotated out from the lower body.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a folding frame, and more particularly, to a folding frame with a rotatable hook capable of engaging with a fixing device to fasten the folding frame.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Portability is an important feature of modern electronic products. One of the examples of is that the market for notebook computers enlarges continuously. The market of portable PCs also expands dramatically as the technology matures. Usually, there are a system module and a display module included in this kind of electronic product. The system module and the display module are included in an upper body and a lower body separately. The two bodies are often rotatably coupled together at one edge. In the prior art, for ensuring the fastening of the two bodies, a hook and a fastener are often disposed on the display module away from the edge at which the display module is rotatably coupled to the system module. A fixing device is set opposite to the hook on the system module. The hook and the fixing device can link with each other for fastening the display module and the system module when the two modules are closed together.
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In the conventional notebook computer, the hook 114 and the fastener 113 may be assembled on the housing of the system module and the fixing device 124 on the housing of the display module. However, the hook 114 remains sticking out from the housing when the lower body and the upper body are separate. If the hook 114 and the fastener 113 are set on the housing of the system module, the sticking-out hook 114 will make the user uncomfortable and pose an inconvenience when the user uses the touch panel or the keyboard. Hence, in most cases, the hook and the fastener are disposed on the display module and fixing device is set on the housing of the system module as demonstrated in
It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention to provide a folding frame with a rotatable hook that can hide the hook when the two bodies of the frame are opened.
Briefly described, the claimed invention discloses a folding frame with a rotatable hook. The folding frame includes an upper body, a lower body, a fixing device disposed on the upper body, a hook rotatably coupled to the lower body, and a fastener for rotating the hook opposite to the lower body. The fastener comprises a shaft of which a first end is coupled to the hook, a spring of which a first end is coupled to a second end of the shaft, and a latch pin capable of moving the spring thereby moving the shaft for rotating the hook, and of which a first end of the latch pin is coupled to a second end of the spring. In the claimed invention, the hook is unhooked from the fixing device when the hook is rotated into the lower body and the hook is engaged with the fixing device when the hook is rotated out from the lower body.
It is an advantage of the claimed invention that the hook is capable of being hidden inside the housing of the folding frame when the two bodies of the folding frame are opened. In the claimed invention, the hook may be rotated into the housing, hence the hook is not readily broken by external force and does not cause inconvenience to the user.
These and other objectives of the claimed invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The present invention utilizes a hook rotatably connected with a lower body of a folding frame and a fixing device disposed on an upper body of the folding frame for fastening the two bodies at closure. The hook is unhooked from the fixing device when being rotated into the lower body, and the hook is engaged with the fixing device when being rotated out from the lower body. In the invention, the discomfort caused by the exposed hook in the prior art is avoided, and the risk of the hook of being broken by unexpected external force is reduced. Furthermore, the design of the rotatable hook augments portable PCs or other folding frames which need to rotate the display module from setting two fasteners on both sides of the display module. This advantage simplifies the design and decreases the cost.
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When the hook of the present invention is exposed outside the housing but experiences an external force, or the hook gets stuck in the housing for some reason while the knob is pushed violently, the design of the spring in the present invention can save the hook of the fastener from damage. Please refer to
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The fixing device of the present invention is an opening of simple structure. There is no need to thicken the display module for disposing fixing devices on both sides of the display module. The structure of the fastener is simpler than the fastener in the prior art, too. In order to increase the robustness of the engagement of the hook and the fixing device in the present invention, the fixing device of the present invention may include a magnet, and the hook may be made of magnetic metal. Therefore, when the hook inserts into the fixing device and engages with it, the magnetic force between the magnet and the hook makes the upper body and the lower body fasten even more tightly so that they are not easily separated by unexpected external force. Further, when the knob is pushed, a pushing force that is larger than the magnetic force between the hook and the fixing device can disengage the hook from the fixing device easily.
Comparing to the conventional fastening method, the present invention prevents the hook of the folding frame from being damaged by unexpected external force, and the uncomfortable feeling to users caused by the exposed hook is avoided. The present invention is applicable to folding frames that support fixing devices on both sides of a single module, such as portable PCs. The hook and the fastener of the present invention can be assembled on the housing of the system module, and the fixing device on each side of the display module housing. Contrarily, if one chooses to assemble the fixing device on the housing of the system module and dispose a set of a hook and a fastener on each side of the display module, this will still work since the hook is hidden in the housing when the folding frame is open. Besides the portable PC, the present invention can also be applied to notebook computers and electronic translators and other folding frames.
The present invention provides a folding frame that utilizes a rotatable hook for increasing the robustness of the closure of the upper body and the lower body of the folding frame. The present invention avoids the uncomfortable feeling resulting from the conventional hook remaining exposed from the housing. Further, the utilization of the spring included in the fastener prevents the hook from being broken when unexpected external force is brought to the knob or the hook. Applying the present invention, only one set of the hook and the fastener is needed to be assembled on the folding frame which supports fixing devices on both side of a single module, hence the cost is decreased.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. According, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A folding frame with a rotatable hook comprising:
- an upper body;
- a lower body;
- a fixing device disposed on the upper body;
- a hook rotatably coupled to the lower body, wherein the hook is unhooked from the fixing device when the hook is rotated into the lower body and the hook is engaged with the fixing device when the hook is rotated out from the lower body;
- a fastener for rotating the hook opposite to the lower body; and
- a slit, wherein the fastener slides along the slit for rotating the hook.
2. The folding frame of claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises:
- a shaft, wherein a first end of the shaft is coupled to the hook; and
- a spring, wherein a first end of the spring is coupled to a second end of the shaft.
3. The folding frame of claim 2 wherein the fastener comprises a latch pin capable of moving the spring thereby moving the shaft for rotating the hook.
4. The folding frame of claim 3 wherein a first end of the latch pin is coupled to a second end of the spring and a second end of the latch pin is exposed outside the lower body.
5. The folding frame of claim 4 in which the second end of the latch pin is connected to a knob, wherein the hook is rotated forward when the knob is moved.
6. (canceled)
7. The folding frame of claim 1 wherein the fixing device comprises a magnet, and the hook comprises a magnetic metal.
8. The folding frame of claim 1 wherein the upper body is a display module and the lower body is a system module.
9. The folding frame of claim 8 wherein the system module comprises:
- a central processing unit;
- a memory module;
- a wireless module for transmitting signals wirelessly; and
- a bus interface for receiving and/or outputting signals from/to another system.
10. The folding frame of claim 1 wherein the lower body is a display module and the upper body is a system module.
11. The folding frame of claim 10 wherein the system module comprises:
- a central processing unit;
- a memory module;
- a wireless module for transmitting signals wirelessly; and
- a bus interface for receiving and/or outputting signals from/to another system.
12. The folding frame of claim 1 being a notebook computer.
13. The folding frame of claim 1 being a portable PC wherein the upper body is a display module and comprises a touch panel, the upper body connected to the lower body rotatably and with fixing devices set on both sides.
14. The folding frame of claim 1 being an electronic translator.
15. A folding frame with a rotatable hook comprising:
- an upper body,
- a lower body;
- a fixing device disposed on the upper body;
- a hook rotatably coupled to the lower body, wherein the hook is unhooked from the fixing device when the hook is rotated into the lower body and the hook is engaged with the fixing device when the hook is rotated out from the lower body;
- a fastener for rotating the hook opposite to the lower body comprising: a spring, wherein a first end of the spring is coupled to the hook; and a latch pin capable of moving the spring thereby rotating the hook, wherein a first end of the latch pin is coupled to a second end of the spring; and
- a knob connected to a second end of the latch pin, wherein the hook is rotated forward when the knob is moved.
16. The folding frame of claim 15 further comprising a slit, wherein the fastener slides along the slit for rotating the hook.
17. The folding frame of claim 15 wherein the second end of the latch pin is exposed outside the lower body.
18. (canceled)
19. The folding frame of claim 15 wherein the fixing device comprises a magnet, and the hook comprises a magnetic metal.
20. The folding frame of claim 15 wherein the upper body is a display module and the lower body is a system module.
21. The folding frame of claim 20 wherein the system module comprises:
- a central processing unit;
- a memory module;
- a wireless module for transmitting signals wirelessly; and
- a bus interface for receiving and/or outputting signals from/to another system.
22. The folding frame of claim 15 wherein the lower body is a display module and the upper body is a system module.
23. The folding frame of claim 22 wherein the system module comprises:
- a central processing unit;
- a memory module;
- a wireless module for transmitting signals wirelessly; and
- a bus interface for receiving and/or outputting signals from/to another system.
24. The folding frame of claim 15 being a notebook computer.
25. The folding frame of claim 15 being a portable PC wherein the upper body is a display module and comprises a touch panel, the upper body connected to the lower body rotatably and with fixing devices set on both sides.
26. The folding frame of claim 15 being an electronic translator.
27. A folding frame with a rotatable hook comprising:
- an upper body;
- a lower body;
- a fixing device disposed on the upper body;
- a hook rotatably coupled to the lower body, wherein the hook is unhooked from the fixing device when the hook is rotated into the lower body and the hook is engaged with the fixing device when the hook is rotated out from the lower body; and
- a fastener for rotating the hook opposite to the lower body, the fastener comprising: a shaft, wherein a first end of the shaft is coupled to the hook; and a spring, wherein a first end of the spring is coupled to a second end of the shaft.
28. The folding frame of claim 27 wherein the fastener comprises a latch pin capable of moving the spring thereby moving the shaft for rotating the hook.
29. The folding frame of claim 28 wherein a first end of the latch pin is coupled to a second end of the spring and a second end of the latch pin is exposed outside the lower body.
30. The folding frame of claim 29 in which the second end of the latch pin is connected to a knob, wherein the hook is rotated forward when the knob is moved.
31. The folding frame of claim 27 further comprising a slit, wherein the fastener slides along the slit for rotating the hook.
32. The folding frame of claim 27 wherein the fixing device comprises a magnet, and the hook comprises a magnetic metal.
33. The folding frame of claim 27 wherein the upper body is a display module and the lower body is a system module.
34. The folding frame of claim 33 wherein the system module comprises:
- a central processing unit;
- a memory module;
- a wireless module for transmitting signals wirelessly; and
- a bus interface for receiving and/or outputting signals from/to another system.
35. The folding frame of claim 27 wherein the lower body is a display module and the upper body is a system module.
36. The folding frame of claim 35 wherein the system module comprises:
- a central processing unit;
- a memory module;
- a wireless module for transmitting signals wirelessly; and
- a bus interface for receiving and/or outputting signals from/to another system.
37. The folding frame of claim 27 being a notebook computer.
38. The folding frame of claim 27 being a portable PC wherein the upper body is a display module and comprises a touch panel, the upper body connected to the lower body rotatably and with fixing devices set on both sides.
39. The folding frame of claim 27 being an electronic translator.
Type: Application
Filed: May 3, 2004
Publication Date: Aug 4, 2005
Patent Grant number: 6965512
Inventors: King-Tung Huang (Taipei Hsien), Hsin-Chien Wang (Taipei Hsien), Chu-Hsian Chian (Taipei Hsien), Chi-Min Hung (Taipei Hsien), Yu-Jen Liu (Taipei Hsien)
Application Number: 10/709,409